go away forever.
You were to remain, and make this charge against the doctor."

"It is an infernal lie," shrieked Deever. "Where is my brother? I demand
that you produce him."

"Your brother is now hidden in your house at Nyack. It was vacant. You
told him to go there, until you could make arrangements to get him
safely away. As to the body, you bought it of a grave-robber."

"How do you pretend to know that?" asked Deever, scornfully.

"As to the body, I can produce the man who sold it. As to your brother,
I know where he has gone, because no other course was practicable; and
because I have had word that he is there."

"I defy you to prove it," cried Deever. "I am willing to let the
question of my guilt or innocence rest on that event. He is not there."

There was a peculiar light of triumph in Deever's eyes as he spoke. It
did not escape Nick's observation.

The shrewd detective saw at a glance that Deever believed his brother to
have already escaped.

Could it be possible? In any event, Nick would not evade the other's
challenge.

He felt that his reputation was at stake, but he did not hesitate.

"If I do not produce him in twenty-four hours," said Nick, "I will
withdraw my charge against you."

CHAPTER X.

NICK'S REPUTATION AT STAKE.

As Nick made the bold assertion of his power to produce Patrick Deever
alive, both Chick and the superintendent looked at him with something as
near doubt as anybody who knew Nick Carter could feel in any of his
statements.

They both saw that Deever felt sure of his brother's escape, and they
could not help seeing that there was many chances in favor of it.

But Nick was undismayed. He put his trust in Patsy's fidelity.

"I shall hold you and Flint under arrest," said Superintendent Byrnes to
Deever. "Dr. Jarvis, you may go when you wish."

Nick, Chick and Dr. Jarvis left the room, after the last-named had
expressed his thanks to those concerned in his deliverance.

Nick went at once to Nyack. It was very late when he reached there.

He made his way to the house of Lawrence Deever, which stood some
distance from the centre of the town.

There was no sign of Patsy about the place. The house seemed to be
deserted.

Nick easily effected an entrance. He searched the house thoroughly.

There were signs of the recent presence of Patrick Deever. He had done
some rude cooking. The remnants of the food which he had prepared were
visible.

But the man hims